Things to Do In NYC This Week: American Museum of Natural History’s “Dark Universe” Opens Today!

Here’s a list of things to do in NYC this week as published by the New York Times. I had the great opportunity to attend the press preview of the American Museum of Natural History‘s wonderful new space movie,Dark Universe. More later about this entertaining and informative piece narrated by Neil Degrasse Tyson.

American Diabetes Association’s World’s Largest Block Party (Saturday) From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Madison Avenue, between 42nd and 57th Streets.

John Berryman Induction Into the American Poets Corner (Sunday) The poet, who died in 1972 at 57, will join Katherine Anne Porter, Emily Dickinson, E. E. Cummings, James Baldwin and other writers in the literary hall of honor at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The ceremony will take place during the evensong service at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a celebration with writers and scholars. 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, at 112th Street, Morningside Heights, (212) 316-7490, stjohndivine.org; donations are accepted.

Big Apple Film Festival (Wednesday through Nov. 10) This annual festival — the 10th — highlights short and feature-length films and documentaries by independent filmmakers in New York City. The opening film, screening on Wednesday at 8 p.m., is “Jake Squared,” written and directed by Howard Goldberg and starring Elias Koteas, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Virginia Madsen, Jane Seymour and Mike Vogel. There will also be several programs of short films, beginning at 6 p.m. TriBeCa Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, near Laight Street, (646) 708-5910, bigapplefilmfestival.com; $20 per screening program.

Neal Boenzi Photography Retrospective (Wednesday through Nov. 27) More than 30 photographs capturing events big and small are included in this exhibition of works by Mr. Boenzi, a photographer for The New York Times for more than 40 years. Mr. Boenzi, who turns 88 this month, retired in 1991. The show, featuring portraits of Mayor Edward I. Koch, Frank Sinatra, President Harry S. Truman and Van Cliburn, opens on Wednesday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., Jadite Galleries, 413 West 50th Street, (212) 315-2740; free.

‘The Golden Age of Spanish Horror Cinema’ (through Nov. 10) This tribute to Spanish horror films continues with two works directed by Jess Franco. “Venus in Furs” (1969), with Klaus Kinski, screens on Friday at 7:15 p.m., and “The Demons” (1972), inspired by Ken Russell’s 1971 film “The Devils,” screens on Friday at 9:15 p.m. The films are either in English or dubbed in English. Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue, at Second Street, East Village, (212) 505-5181, anthologyfilmarchives.org; $10 per screening, $8 for students, 65+ and children 12 and younger, $6 for members.

‘Iranian New Wave 1960s-1970s’ Film Series (Saturday through Nov. 22) Films that are considered to be part of the Iranian New Wave — works made before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 — are the focus of this series at the Asia Society. The opening feature, screening on Saturday at 6 p.m., is “The Cow,” a 1969 film by Dariush Mehrjui about a man who assumes the identity of his missing cow. The film, which had been smuggled out of Iran, won the critics award at the 1971 Venice Film Festival. This film series is running in conjunction with the exhibition “Iran Modern,” featuring 100 works by 26 artists. 725 Park Avenue, at 70th Street, Manhattan, (212) 517-2742,asiasociety.org/iraniannewwave; $12, $10 for students and 65+, $8 for members.

Midtown South Community Council Street Fair (Sunday) From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Avenue of the Americas, between 34th and 42nd Streets.

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Al Hirschfeld Exhibition(through Jan. 4) “The Line King’s Library,” a display of work by Al Hirschfeld, whose specialty was theatrical caricatures, features rare works as well as those familiar to theatergoers and readers of various publications, including The New York Times. The exhibition also includes video interviews with Mr. Hirschfeld, who died in 2003 at 99, and works by some of his contemporaries. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., until 8 on Mondays and Thursdays, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 111 Amsterdam Avenue, at 65th Street, Lincoln Center, (917) 275-6975,nypl.org/events/exhibitions/line-kings-library.

‘StarTalk Live!’: Space and Comedy (Monday) The latest installment of this talk-show series featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, and the comedian Eugene Mirman, will take place at 8 p.m. at Town Hall. Others are expected to join the two hosts, whose discussions are usually heard on startalkradio.net. 123 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, (800) 982-2787, the-townhall-nyc.org; $45.45 to $50.60.

‘Write of Passage’ (Saturdays through Nov. 23) The exhibition devoted to the street art features a full-size copy of a subway car, which was recently tagged by SEEN TC5, SKEME TMT and other graffiti artists who were active in the 1970s. In conjunction with the exhibition on Saturday at 3 p.m., a discussion titled “Cops & Writers” will reunite a graffiti artist and a former member of the New York City Police Department whose job was to stop him. Viewing hours are from 1 to 5 p.m., Red Bull Studios New York, 218 West 18th Street, Chelsea, redbull.com\writeofpassage; massappeal.com/writeofpassage-programming; free.

Kim Stuart Swidler

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